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Ricky Martin and Juanes Praise Colombia’s Gay Marriage Ruling

Entertainment

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Ricky Martin and Juanes were among the Latino stars who praised Colombian lawmakers for taking a step closer to legalizing gay marriage in the country.

On Thursday, the highest court in the conservative Roman Catholic nation rejected a proposal which states marriage is only applied to unions between men and women.

Although gay couples in Colombia are already allowed to form civil unions, passing a law letting same-sex couples marry would give them the right to inheritance, pensions and health benefits, among other things.

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A final ruling on the law is expected to be approved in the coming weeks, and would make Colombia the fourth country in Latin American to legalize gay marriage – joining Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.

Following the Constitutional Court’s decision, Colombian superstar Juanes took to Twitter to praise the vote in his native country, writing, “Love is stronger than anything and should never have any chains on it. I am celebrating this news.”

And on Saturday, the “Livin’ La Vida Loca” star also spoke in favor for same-sex marriage in Santiago, Chile, as he met with Luis Larrain, president of Fundacion Iguales, a Chilean Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) advocacy group, as well as other advocates for the cause.

“Ricky Martin is a figure known around the world who allowed us to reach a much larger audience with his message of equality and nondiscrimination,” Larrain said in a statement. “We hope that his testimony as a gay father will serve to eliminate prejudices among those who still have them and that the government will realize that it cannot keep postponing marriage equality with filiation.”

Martin is the father of twin boys, Matteo and Valentino, born via a surrogate in 2008.